Tag fastener



May 19, 1931. F. MAGIDSON 1,806,171

TAG FASTENER Filed Nov.- 5, 1929 Patented May 19, 1931 UNITED STATES FRANK MAGIDSON, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 PITTSBURGH TAG COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA TAG FASTEN'ER Application filed November This invention relates to fasteners and more particularly to fasteners adapted for use in attaching tags or other identifying media or in'dicia temporarily to articles or materials.

An object of the invention is the provision of a fastener which will effectively grip and attach itself to the article or material to be identified.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a fastener which will not damage the article or material.

A further object is the provision of a fastener adapted for relatively hard or thick articles or materials and especially for snapping on to wires, cords and the like without first opening the same manually.

A further object is the provision of a fastener readily and inexpensively formed from a single piece of wire.

A still further object is the provision of a fastener which is easily secured to or detached from the associated article or material.

Other and further objects and advantages will either be apparent hereinafter or will be pointed out as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views: I

Figure 1 is an elevation of a fastener associted with an identifying tag; and Figure 2 is a perspective elevational view; and Figure 3 is an edge view of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the fastener comprises a single piece of wire 1 bent intermediate its ends, but not at its midpoint, to form a shorter leg 2 and a longer leg 3, which legs extend parallelly for the greater part of the length of the fastener. At 4, the legs converge rapidly toward one another and cross at 5. At 5, however, the longer leg 3 is bent back upon itself over the shorter leg 2 so that it extends substantially coextensive to and parallel with its own converging portion A to form a guiding and limiting oblique loop 6, in which the other leg may operate, which loop is completed by rebending leg 3 back upon itself again so that it resumes the original direction to the 5, 1929. Serial No. 404,883. 7

fore the above named bends are made andas v the wire is bendable or resilient, shorter leg 2 may be temporarily displaced as shown by the dotted lines.

This displacement is unusually simple and easy due to the angled ends 8 and the general arrangement of the parts. The fastener may be merely pushed against the'wire, cord, or the like with the result that the meeting edges are forced apart the required distance so that the wire, cord, or the like, passes therebetween and the ends snap back into place inasmuch as by their construction they are constantly urged into contacting position.

The loop 6 guides and limits the displacement of leg 2 and prevents the elastic limit of the material from being exceeded as well as avoiding lateral movement of the parts which would not so well accomplish the desired end. 7 7

To detach the tag and fastener, a simple grasping ofthe legs 2 and 3 between the thumb and finger of one hand and gently squeezing the same will displace, leg 2 and open the ends at the point 9. p

The invention has proved of exceptional meritfor use in shipping or parcel post departments, particularly where it is desired to attach the tags speedily without the necessity of time-consuming manual operations.

The invcntion may also be used on hard surfaces like parchments and the angled ends give a better and non-slipping grip thereon.

It is clear that a fastener without the; sloping orinclined ends 8 is totally unable to perform the present operations.

I have shown a preferred form of my fastener and have described the same but such is to be deemed illustrative and notlimitative 1,806,171 "I .1. If

tact below a line connecting their highermost points.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this lth day of November,

FRANK MAGIDSON.

of pieces could be used if necessary. The .1.

complete fastener clearly lies substantially in a single plane.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. A. device of the character described con sisting of a single piece of wire bent intermediate its ends to form legs of unequal length substantially parallel for the greater part of the extent of the finished fastener, the legs thereafter converging and crossing, the longer leg being bent over the shorter one at the point of crossing and extending back coextensively with and parallel to its own converging portion, thereafter again reversing and following the original direction, thus forming a guiding and limiting loop in which the shorter leg operates, said legs thereupon diverging to a width approximately that of the parallel legs, subsequently curving inwardly and downwardly into contact below a line connecting the highermost points.

2. A fastener consisting of'a unitary piece of resilient wire bent intermediate its ends at a point to one side of the center thereby forming a shorter and a longer leg, said legs extending parallelly for the greater portion of the length of the finished fastener, the legs thereafter converging and crossing, the longer leg being bent over-the shorter at the point of crossing and extending downwardly coextensive with and parallel to its own converging portion, thereafter curving back upon itself again and following the original direction to the point of crossing aforesaid, thus forming a limiting and guiding loop in which the shorter leg operates, both legs thereupon diverging to a width approximately that of their parallel portions and subsequently bending at an acute angle inwardly and downwardly into contact below a lineconnecting their highermost points, the ends of the wire being beveled and the whole fastener lying substantially in a single plane.

3. A fastener having contacting ends adapted to be opened temporarily by contact with the article to which it is to be attached and including two legs one of which is looped about the other to form a limiting guide therefor, the legs thereafter diverging and subsequently bending downwardly into conran 

